Health Policy Forum on Tobacco Control in South Carolina

The Impact of Tobacco in South Carolina

Please join us for a health policy forum to disucss the following issues in our state.  You will have the opportunity to hear from experts in the field on the latest evidence showing the toll of tobacco on our state.  Tobacco remains the number one preventable cause of death and South Carolina’s biggest opportunity to save lives, reduce health care costs and generate revenue for our state. Statewide tobacco control policies have not been adawquately addressed in South Carolina creating an adult smoking rates that is 42 percent higher than the national average. This is costing the state $1.9 billion annually in annual health care costs.

State Tobacco Tax Increase:

The time is right for South Carolina to once again come together to work on increasing the state tobacco excise tax.  The last tobacco tax increase was passed in 2010 bringing the state tax  to .57 cent per pack.

Smoke- Free Laws:

Only 40% of South Carolinaians are protected under a comprehensive smoke-free law and recently the number of communities passing smoke-free laws have stalled.  It is time to reenergize coalitions and educate the general public on their right to breathe clean air. 

State Tobacco Funding:

As advocates, we not only have to protect the $5 million from the cigarette tax that is currently allocated to tobacco prevention and control but we have to determine how additional funds can be secured at the state level and how the state will adquately use those funds. Currently, South Carolina spends less than 10 percent of the CDC recommended amount on tobacco prevention and cessasation.